Page 125 of Falling Back to You

I paused on the porch and faced the farmhouse. Cal was watching, making sure I made it safely, just like he always did. I lifted my hand in a wave.

It was too dark to see his smile, but I felt it, warming me all the way to my toes. He waved back, and my heart tumbled in my chest.

Chapter forty-three

Noelle

“I didn’t think it was possible, but you really have gotten worse,” Cal said, gripping my elbows as I teetered on my skates.

“I tried to tell you,” I grumbled. His idea of a date was strapping killer blades to my feet and shuffling around a frozen surface. I wasn’t clumsy like Macy, but neither was I graceful. I probably should have told him I wasn’t sure my legs would keep me upright after the flare-up, but he’d been so excited, I didn’t have the heart to tell him how much I was hurting.

Plus, I was tired of lying around. Time with him was worth the effort.

Cal chuckled, and it echoed lightly in the deserted Palace Arena. He’d pulled some strings and gotten us in here for a private skate. “I thought you were joking. But this is actually turning out better than I thought.”

“Uh . . . how?”

“I have you exactly where I want you.” His dimple popped with a flirty smile. “In my arms.”

My face burned. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Oh? Care to enlighten me why not?”

“So many reasons.” My ankles wobbled, and my back twinged as I tried to correct my balance.

Cal caught me against his chest, slowing us to a stop. He smirked down at me, eyes sparkling. “Name one, Holiday, or I’ll know you’re stalling.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold his gaze. Kindness and trust shone out of those gorgeous blue eyes. Because it would be so easy to let myself fall for you, and I’m terrified of hurting you again. “How can you not hate me? I hate myself for what I did.”

His teasing smile faded into something more gentle. “Because I believe in forgiveness and grace, Elle. In the beginning I was mad, and I did blame you. After I grew up a bit, I had to look in the mirror and realize there were two people in our relationship, and it wasn’t fair to put all the blame on your shoulders.”

I took a shuddering breath. “Nate didn’t want to be with me because I can’t do all the things I used to anymore, and you keep being Mr. Flirty Pants after I literally ran away from our wedding.”

Cal cupped my cheek. “I’m not him, Noelle. And I’m not the punk kid I used to be. I know what I want and I know the risks involved.” His eyes traced my face, like he was committing me to memory. “You’ve always been my person, and I’ll be darned if I don’t grab a hold of a second chance with you.”

“Why?”

He kissed my forehead and carefully eased us back into a forward motion. “I don’t think you’re ready for that confession yet.”

“Callan, please.”

He stopped abruptly, and I careened into his chest. Yup, he’s solid. “Say it again.”

I frowned up at him, holding onto his arms for balance. “Please?”

“My name,” he said huskily. “You’re the only one who ever made me like it. Mama only uses it when I’m in trouble, which is far from appealing. But you?” He brushed a loose curl behind my ear. “I love when you say it, and I’ve been waiting a long time for it, woman.”

“Callan James, confess,” I dared.

His eyes darkened. “Because I still love you. Not for what you do or don’t do, not because you’re the closest unmarried female in my life I’m not related to. Not because my daughter loves you, which she absolutely does. But because you’re you. The girl I grew up with who knows all my embarrassing moments and laughs at my jokes. The woman I fell in love with.” He cupped my cheek. “My love doesn’t have conditions, Elle.”

The sweet words wrapped me up in a hug. “What’s going on here?” I motioned between us.

“Sweetheart, if you have to ask, I’m not doing a very good job of it.”

“Cal,” I whispered, pressing a hand to his chest. “This. Us. We had a chance, and I messed it up.”

“We messed it up. I did my fair share of being selfish back then.”